Half to e



(No Model.)

" J. P. CHAMPION.

GAR BRAKE. No. 336,090. Patnted f'eb. 16, 1886.

L V P 0/ 11-145.:M m ,-W

wi/bwcooea 7 v yzgwgtoz W m 6 -11105 mrww N. PETERS. Phalo-Litiwgmphar, wmm m. nc

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PAULDING CHAMPION, HALF TO B. 0.

OAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent No. 336,090, dated February 16. 1886. Application filed November 23, 1885. Serial No. 183,759. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PAULDING CHAM- PION, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gainesville, in the county of Hall, and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brakes for Freight-Oars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvementin brakes for freight-cars; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a freight-car provided with my improved brake apparatus, the latter being partly broken away and partly in section. Fig. 2 is a detailed end elevation.

A represents a freight-car, which is provided with the usual brake apparatus, B, having the usual lever, C. On the top of the car, near one end thereof, are secured my improvements, in which a represents the sides of the frame, which sides are formed of substantia-ll y semicircular plates arranged parallel to each other and on one side of the tread board Z, with which the car is provided, to enable the brakemen to walk back and forth thereon. The sides a are connected together at their centers by a cross-bar, b, and through the sides, in front and rear of the barb, are made aligned openings d and e. A shaft, f, may be journaled in either of the openings d or c. XVhen in the former, the shaft is near the end of the car, and when in the latter at some distance from the end thereof. The shaftf has a drum, g, a ratchet-wheel, h, and a wheel-lever, k. A pawl, Z, is pivoted on the bar I), and engages with the ratchet-wheel, as shown, to prevent retrograde movement of the shaft. Brackets m are secured to the up per and lower sides of the car, and in these 4.5 brackets are journaled sheaves n. A chain or rope, 0, is attached to the brake-lever, passes over the sheaves n, and is connected to the drum. By turning the wheel in the direction of.the arrow in Fig. l the brakes are applied, and by releasing the pawl from the ratchet-wheel the brakes are removed from the canwheels.

This improved form of brake apparatus is advantageous, as by its use the brakeman, should he be thrown oft" his balance, will not fall between the cars, as the brake apparatus is at some distance from the ends thereof. It also allows free and unimpeded passage from one end of the train to the other, and the position of the brake-leverwheel is such that the brakeman may exert all his power there on with the least possible effort. Should the chain or any other part of the brake give way, the brakeman will not be thrown between the cars, but remain standing on his feet, and not release his hold on the brake-wheel. Another advantage is, that the train-hands can see from the ground, or from one car to another, if the brake is on or oil, and thus save the time and labor and the attending climbing up and over the cars.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to construct a freight-car brake having a drum and hand-wheel supported on the top of the car at a distance from the end thereof, and achain' connecting the drum with the brake-lever, and this, broadly, I disclaim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a freight-car brake, the combination of 8c the sides a, secured on the top of the car at a distance from the end thereof, and having the crossbar and the openings (2 and e, the shaft journaled in either of the said openings, and having the drum, the ratchet-wheel, and the brake-lever wheel, the pawl pivoted on the cross bar and engaging with the ratchet wheel, the brackets attached to the end of the car and carrying the sheaves, and the chain attached to the drum, passed over the sheaves, and connected to the brake-lever, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PAULDING CHAMPION.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN L. Games, A. B. SMITH.

danger of 0 

